How do I use the Firefox spell checker? | How to

How do I use the Firefox spell checker?

Firefox automatically checks the spelling of words that you enter in text boxes containing more than one line. As soon as you finish typing a word, it is checked against the words in the installed dictionary. If the word is not found in the dictionary, it will be underlined in red, as in the following example:

Note:

Automatic spell-checking is only turned on for text boxes containing more than one line, where you can enter as much text as you want.

Not all locales come with a dictionary installed due to licensing reasons.

Table of Contents

Disabling automatic spell-checking

By default, Firefox is configured to automatically check spelling. You can turn it off in the OptionsPreferences
window:

At the top of the Firefox window, click on the Firefox button and then select Options.At the top of the Firefox window, click on the Tools menu and then select Options.On the menu bar, click on the Firefox menu and select Preferences....At the top of the Firefox window, click on the Edit menu and select Preferences.

Click the menu button
and choose Options.Preferences.

Select the Advanced panel.

Click the General tab.

Uncheck Check my spelling as I type.

Click OK to close the Options window.Click Close to close the Preferences window.Close the Preferences window.

Note: Some options may not appear in the preferences window in custom builds of Firefox.

Correcting misspelled words

When spell-checking is enabled, you can easily correct misspelled words. To correct the misspelled word, Right-clickHold down the Ctrl key while you click
on it and select one of the suggested words at the top of the menu.

If none of the suggested words is appropriate, you must manually edit it. If you are sure the word is spelled correctly, you can add it to the dictionary. To add a word to the dictionary, Right-clickHold down the Ctrl key while you click
on it, and select Add to Dictionary.

Note: Added words apply to all your dictionaries.

Adding dictionaries

You can install other dictionaries as necessary.

Right-clickHold down the Ctrl key while you click
in any text box containing more than one line.

Select Languages.

Select Add dictionaries....

The Mozilla Add-ons Dictionaries page is displayed. To add a dictionary to Firefox, click the "Install Dictionary" link next to the dictionary you want to add. The Software Installation window appears. When it is displayed, click Install Now, which should open the Add-ons tab, where you'll see the dictionary being installed.

To enable the dictionary, click the Restart Now button in the Add-ons manager.

Switching dictionaries

After the dictionary is installed, you can switch to it, as needed. To switch to a different installed dictionary, Right-clickHold down the Ctrl key while you click
in a multi-line field, select Languages, then select the dictionary you want to use.

Removing a word you have accidentally added

Open your profile folder:

At the top of the Firefox window, click on the Firefox button, go over to the Help menuOn the menu bar, click on the Help menuAt the top of the Firefox window, click on the Help menu and select Troubleshooting Information. The Troubleshooting Information tab will open.Click the menu button
, click help
and select Troubleshooting Information. The Troubleshooting Information tab will open.

Under the Application Basics section, click on Show FolderShow in FinderOpen Directory. A window with your profile filesfolder will open.

At the top of the Firefox window, click on the Firefox button and then select ExitAt the top of the Firefox window, click on the File menu and then select ExitOn the menu bar, click on the Firefox menu and select Quit FirefoxAt the top of the Firefox window, click on the File menu and select Quit

Click the menu button
and then click ExitQuit

Open the file persdict.dat in a text editor (such as WordPad).

In the text editor each word you've added is on a separate line. Remove the line, containing the word you wish to remove.